Doughnut machine



y 23, 1940- F. c. CASWELL ET AL 2,208,877

DOUGHNUT MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1939 1 5 Fred C.Cz\swe11 and Alexander S.T. Luomrd y 23, 1940- f. c. CASWELL ET AL 2,208,877

DOUGHNUT MACHINE Fred C. Cuswell and Alexander SIT. lagzmrd J y la jwm @m Patented July 23, 1 940 UNITED STATES 2208 8771 VDOUGHNUT MACHINE Fred C. Caswell and Alexander S. T. Lagaard, Minneapolis, Minn, assignors to Dough-King,

Inc., Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn.,

a corporation. of

Application August 16, 1939, Serial INo. 290,450

8 Claims.

Our invention relates to doughnut machines and particularly todoughnut machines in which the doughnuts are progressed along a channel in a kettle throughout a circuitous course by means of the flow of the cooking liquid, and in which the doughnuts are invertedby a twisted doughnut turner. In such machines considerable velocity of the cooking liquid is required to invert the doughnuts when passing through the .turner. However, considerably less velocity is required to propel the doughnuts up to the turner. :Due to the fact that the doughnuts, when first deposited, are soft and easilydistorted in shape the doughnuts flatten when the flow of the cooking liquid immediately following the doughnut former is sufficient to invert the doughnutsin the turner.

An object of the invention resides in provid-' ing a doughnut machine in which sufiicient flow of the cooking liquid is procured for inverting the doughnuts in the. turner and. in which the flow is sufficiently reduced at the doughnut former to prevent deformation of the doughnuts.

Another object of the invention resides in previding flow dividing means including a drop plate on which the doughnuts are dropped and along which the doughnuts travel, which flow dividing means extends intermediate the height of the channel in which the doughnuts are deposited from a position rearwardly of the doughnut former and to a position in close proximity to the turner to divide the same into upper and lower passageways.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the drop plate imperforate for a distance following the doughnut former so as to definitelymaintain separate rates of flow in the said two.

channels. Another object of the invention resides in providing means formed in the flow dividing means forpositively dividing the rate of flow of cooking liquid in both of the channels.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a gate for controlling the degree of opening of said slit.

Another object of the invention resides the cooking kettle and g metal. Another object of the invention resides in (or 53-7) Y afrtanging said gate in continuation of the drop a p a e. l a

.A still further object of the invention resides in hinging said gate to the drop plate and arranging the free end of the gate to form in con- 5 junction with the secondnained plate the slit leading to the upper passageway.

.Other objects of the invention reside in the novelucombination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter 10 illustrated and/or described. a

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view of a doughnut machine illustrating an embodiment of our invention. a 1

. Fig. 2 is .a fragmentary, elevational sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and drawn to agreater scale.

Fig. 3 is :a plan sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the cover removed, taken on line 3-3. of Fig. 2 and drawn to the same scale as Fig. 1. Fig. .4 is a detail sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3 and drawn to a greater scale.

Inthe drawings we. have shown a doughnut 25 machine A which consists of a case It) supporting a cooking kettle ll. Ahood l2 superimposes covers a portion of the same leaving, an extension I3 extending outwardly beyond said hood. Exteriorly of the hood 30 l2 and above the extension, i3 of the kettle III is a doughnut former M which forms and deposits raw doughnut formations into the portion1of the channel in the kettle H disposed in the extension 13 thereof. posed within a case I5, also situated exteriorly of the hood l2, operates thevarious parts of the invention. These various parts will now be described in detail.

The case It! 'may be of any suitable construc- 40 tion and, as shownin Fig. 2,15 formed of sheet This case is constructed with side walls 1 l5 and end walls ll bent out of the sheet metal. At the upper and lower edges of the walls l6 and I! are formed flanges l8 and H] which stiffen the 5 walls and form a rigid support for the kettle. and other parts of the machine. Reinforcing corner post 21, attached to the walls I6 and H atthe junctures thereof may also be used, if desired. In addition to the walls- I6 and I! an angular 50 partition 22 is employed which is welded to the said wallsand which serves to support the transmission '5 and also the extension I3 of the ket. tle ll. The lower flanges l9 may be supported oncasters, legs, or any other suitable manner to 55.

A transmission dis- 35 mission in case i5.

hold the case at proper elevation above the floor on which the doughnut machine rests. Resting on the flange I8 is a supporting member 23 whichis constructed with a web 24 and flanges 25 and 26 extending inwardly therefrom. Supporting member 23 extends about the walls l6 and i! and the partition 22 and forms a support for the kettle Hi. This supporting member is so constructed that the web 24 thereof lies in continuation of the walls l6 and I1 and partition 22 above which the supporting member isdisposed.

Said supporting member is attached to thecase m by means of bolts 21.

' Within the case it is disposed the cooking kettle l I, previously referred to, which is preferably of cast material and which is constructed with a bottom 29 and with vertical walls 3| extending upwardly therefrom. The vertical walls are connected at their upper ends with upper walls 32 and the various walls are so arranged as to form' a channel33 which extends throughout the major portion of the kettle and which provides away along which the doughnuts may travel. The ketj the same. This lip being spaced from the lip 38 serves to retard transmission of heat from the kettle to the case. The kettle II is supported on the supporting member 23 through supporting blocks 4| which are cast integral with said ledge 3'! and rest on the flange 25. Cap screws 36, screwed through the flanges i8 and 25 and into the blocks 4!, hold the kettle in position.

The channel 33 is arranged to provide a straight run 42 which commences in close proximity to the end wall I! adjacent the trans- This run follows along the side wall I6 adjacent the doughnut former 14. The channel 33 at the end of the run 42 makes a curve 43 which leads into another straight run 44 following along the other end wall 11. At the end of this run the channel has a curve 65 which leads into still another straight run 46 which I follows along the other'side wall I6. At the end of the run 46 the channel is constructed with a loop 4!) which communicates with a straight run 41 arranged diagonally of. the kettle. The latter run communicates with a curved run 43' which in turn communicates with a straight run 43 parallel with the run 44. The run '49 communicates with another curved run 5! which, in turn, communicates with a straight run 52 parallel with and closely positioned with respect to the run 42. The run 52 discharges into a reservoir 53 which is merely an enlargement of said run. This reservoir is disposed in the extension l3 of the kettle. In this reservoir is provided a well 54 which communicates with a. short run 55 also .disposed in the extension [3. The run 42 extends outwardly beyond the hood l2 and into the extension !3 where the same is connected by means of a curved run 56 with the short run 55.

The hood l2 consists of four posts 57 which are attached to the supporting member 23 and which areprovided with guide ways 58 which slidably support'windows '59. 'A top is also used with the twisted tubular turner 92.

hood which covers the upper portion of the same, and which, in conjunction with the window, confines the space above the kettle ii. The extension l3 of kettle i I is covered by means of a cover plate Bl which is attached to the flanges 26 of. the supporting member 23 by means of bolts 62.

Attached to the plate 65 is a motor 33 provided with a vertical shaft 64. The motor 83 is mounted on a hollow tubular base 65 which is constructed with a flange t6 resting on the plate 6|. The flange 66 has cars (51' projecting outwardly therefrom through which bolts E3 extend and which are threaded into the plate 3!. The

"base 65 is constructed with ventilating openings 69 which supply air to the motor and assist in keeping the motor cool.

A cap ii on the motor protects the air vents in the upper portion of the motor. Extending downwardly from the flange 66 is a tubular housing l2 which. projects into the well 54 and is concentrically disposed within the same. Shaft 64 is disposed within the tubular housing. and is journalled at its lower end in a bearing 13 mounted in said housing. This shaft has attached to the lower end of the same a pro peller 74 which serves to elevate the cooking liquid and discharge the same at an elevation above said propeller. An inlet port 7'5 is formed in the lower portion of the well 54 which communicates with the reservoir 53. An outlet port 16 near the upper portion of the well 5 3-, communicates with the short run 55 which leads into run 42 of the channel 33.

At the lowermost portion of the machine is provided a cleanout H, as shown in Fig. l, which is used for removing the cooking'liquid from the kettle l I and also for removing the crumbs therefrom. This construction forming no feature of the instant invention has not been shown in detail in the drawings.

Situated at the beginning of the run 32 of A be described in detail in this application. The 4 cutter 86 includes a flanged sleeve 6i which severs dough extrusions from the mass contained in receptacle 65. This sleeve is reciprocated in opposite directions by means of a forked arm 88, which is mounted on a shaft 89. operated by a motor and the transmission enclosed within the transmission housing 55. Inasmuch as the driving mechanism for the shaft does not form a feature of the instant invention, the same has not been illustrated. readily become apparent that doughnuts extruded from the doughnut former hfare depos ited in the flowing cooking liquid which travels along the run 42 of channel 43 in the direction of the arrow.

Inthe run '46 of channel 33 is arranged a This turner inverts the doughnuts after the same have been cooked a predetermined length of time so that the said doughnuts may be cooked equally on both sides thereof.

In the run 52 ofchannel 33 is disposed an ejector 93 for removing the cooked doughnuts from the cooking liquid. This ejector comprises a shaft 94 which is constantly driven from the transmission within the housing l5. This shaft has mounted on it oppositely extending cranks 95 and 96. Sets of toothed blades 9'! and 98 are mounted on the said cranks and are adapted to be alternately raised and lowered as the shaft Shaft 83 is It will thus 1 M rotates." The lower ends 9301 these blades slide upon an inclined rest IIlI which is mounted on the bottom 29-of the receptacle II in the portion of the run 52 thereof. It will be readily comprehended that, as the doughnuts reach the said blades, the doughnuts are elevated and progressed upwardly and outwardly of the. cooking kettle I I. The ejector 93 is disposed within a trough I82 constructed with two side plates I03 and Iil l and a bottom I05 at the discharge end thereof, which direct the doughnuts upon leaving the ejector outwardlyof the machine.

For controlling the rate of travel of the doughnuts along the channel 43 two controlling devices IIIIS and III! are employed. These control devices operate to allow the doughnuts, one ata time, to enter the turner 92 and the ejector 93. Thesecontrol devices are operated by a shaft I98 driven from the transmission within the housing I5 and are moved periodically at predetermined intervals. Inasmuch asany desired construction may be used for this purpose and since this construction does not form a particular feature of the instant invention, the'details thereof have not been. shown, nor will the samebe described specifically. Where the machine. is of fairly large capacity, the control devices I06 and 'III'I may be omitted and the rate of flow of. the cooking liquid utilized to time the cooking of the doughnuts. i

The elevation of the cooking liquid in the kettle II is maintained by means of a dam III. situated in the run 52 of.channe1 33 at the locality of the beginning of the reservoir 53. The cooking liquid in flowing through the channel .33 passes over this. dam whichserves as a wier and is maintained at a predetermined elevation thereby.

The invention proper consists of. flow dividing means II I) which is disposed in the runs 56, 42 and 33. and a portion of the run 44 of channel 33. The flow dividing means III) is situated at an elevation intermediate the bottom 29 and the ledge Ill to divide the portion of the channel 33 in which it is situated into, upper and lower passageways H5 andqIIB. This flow dividing means includes a drop plate II 2 which is 'con{ structed from sheet metal and rests on a ledge II 3 formed along the walls 3| of the kettle II. The said drop plate is held in position by means of screws II I, screwed into enlargements 220 of the ledge II3. As best shown in Fig. 3 the drop plate H2 terminates along a line II1 continuous with the edge of one of thewalls 3| of channel d2. Adjacent this edge is formed a short extension I I3 of the drop plate which is separately supported and attached to the kettle inthe same manner as the drop plate II2 by means of screws III This extension has hingedly connected to it, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a piano hinge I2I a gatejI22. I This gate is movable. toward and from a fixed plate I23 which extends up to the well 54. The plate I23 isconstructed. and supported in identically the same manner as the dropplate II 2 by means of screws. I III which are threaded into the wall structureiof the kettle.

The plate I23 lies in the same plane asthe drop plate H2 and the gate I22, whenclosed, is in coplanar relation with respect to both the drop plate H2 and the plate I23. The flow dividing meansincluding the plate I23, drop plate H2 and extension II8 are imperforate andfit snugly. upon the ledges H3 so that the flow in the two channels II 5 and H6 may be definitely main tained. Theplate I23is situatedabove theport; 16 so that the propeller12 discharges; the cooking cured to procure inversion of when they reach the control liquid into the lower passageway IIB. The upper portion of the well 54 is covered by means of a cover I24. This cover has a boss I25 on it through which the tubular housing I2 extends. A set screw I25 in said boss holds the cover I 24 in position to close the upper end of the well and to force the cooking liquid through the port 76 and into the passageway H6.

When the gate I22 is lowered a slot I2'I is formed between the free edge of the gate and the free edge of the section I23. Through this slot a certain amount of-cooking liquid flows which causes propulsion of the cooking liquid in the passageway II 5. The degree of opening of the slot I2? can be controlled as follows: Attached to the underside of the section I I 8 of the drop plate by means of rivets I28 is a leaf spring I29. This leaf spring engages with a finger I3 I, formed on an arm I32, secured to the underside of the gate I22. This finger permits the end of the leaf spring to slide and the leaf spring is so flexed that it normally forces the gate I 22 away from the section I23 to make the opening I27 as large as possible. The arm I32 projects outwardly beyond the free edge of the gate I22 and is bent back upon itself to form a socket I33 in which is situated a nut I34 held from rotation by said arm. A screw I35 passes through an opening I 36 in the plate I23 and through other openings I31 in the portion of the arm I32 forming the socket I 33. This screw is threaded into the nut I 34. When the screw is screwed in a clockwise direction gate I22 is raised and slot I2! decreased in area. When the screw is turned in the other direction, the said screw limits the downward movement of the gate I22 occasioned by spring I29 and permits of increasing the area of the slot I21. In this manner the degree of opening and the amount of cooking liquid passing into the passageway I I5 can be controlled at will. By the use of a propeller M of proper pitch and by the disposition of the turner 82 and the dam III at suitable elevations, the elevation of the cooking liquid in the chamber H5 and the rate of travel thereof can be accurately controlled. It is to be noted; that the passageway H6 is at all times full of cooking liquid while the cooking liquid in the passageway II5 may be maintained at some height such as indicated at I39 in dotted lines in Fig. 2. 1

. The operation of the invention is obvious. The cooking liquid is brought up to the desired temperature by heating means, not shown in the drawings, and so maintained throughout the use of the machine. Upon energizing motor 63 the cooking liquid is drawn from the reservoir 53 and discharged into the run 55 of channel 33. Where the speed of the motor or the capacity of the propeller is variable the same are adjusted until the properrate of flow of the cooking liquid is prothe doughnuts in the turner 92. The gate I22 is next adjusted by manipulation of screw I3I which can be accomplished by inserting a screw driver through an opening MI in the plate GI and rotating said screw.

When the required amount of fiow in the passageway I is procured, the doughnuts move slowly away from the doughnut former I4 and cook properly so that distortion of the doughnuts,

device I I36 is prevented.

The advantages of our invention are manifest. A doughnut machine. constructed in accordance with our invention is extremely simple and practical to operate requiring a minimum amount of attention on the part of the operator. Due to the construction of the drop plate and the mechanism associated therewith, accurate control of the flow of the cooking liquid in the passageways of the channel in which the doughnuts are deposited can be procured. With our invention crumbs are kept out of the lower passageway so that cleaning of the same is hardly ever required. With our invention any rate of flow can be had through the turner so that positive inversion of the doughnuts is procured. Adjustment oi the flow through the upper passageway is readily controlled while the machine is in operation.

Changes in the specific form of our invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a channel through the flow oi the cooking liquid, flow dividing means including an imperiorate drop plate extending along a portion of the channel and dividing the same into upper and lower passageways, means for impelling the flow of liquid and directing the same into the lower passageway, and means providing a transverse slot in the flow dividing means "for controlling the fiow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooking liquid in the upper channel.

2. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a channel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means in the channel, said flow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means including a drop plate and extending along a portion of the channel and up to the flow impelling means and dividing the channel into upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet being situated below the flow dividing means to discharge the cooking liquid into the lower passageway, and means providing a transverse slot in the flow dividing means for controlling the flow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooking liquid in the upper channel.

3. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along achannel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means in the channel, said flow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means ineluding a drop plate, said flow dividing means being substantially horizontal throughout its extent and extending along a portion of the channel and up to the flow impelling means, said flow dividing means dividing the channel into upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet being situated below the flow dividing means to discharge the cooking liquid into the lower passageway, said flow dividing means having a transverse slot therein intermediate the ends thereof for controlling the flow or" liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooking liquid in the upper channel.

4;. In a doughnut machine in which the dough nuts are progressed along a channel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means inthe channel, said flow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means including a drop plate, said fiow dividing means i extending along a portion of the channel and up to the flow impelling means and dividing the channel into upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet being situated below the flow dividing means to discharge the cooking liquid into the lower passageway, said fiow dividing means including a gate forming in conjunction with a portion of the flow dividing means a transverse slot for controlling the flow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of the cooking liquid in the upper channel, and means for guiding said gate for movement to vary the size of the slot.

5. In a doughnut machine inwhich the doughnuts are progressed along a channel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means in the channel, said fiow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means including a drop plate, said fiow dividing means extending along a portion of the channel and up to the flow impelling means and dividing the channel into upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet being situated below the flow dividing means to discharge the cooking liquid into the lower passageway, said flow dividing means having a section intermediate the ends thereof hinged to one adjoining portion of said flow dividing means to constitute a gate adapted to swing downwardly below the adjoining portion of the flow dividing means and form a transverse slot in conjunction therewith for controlling the flow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooking liquid in the upper channel.

6. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a channel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means in the channel, said flow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means including a drop plate extending along a portion of the channel, an extension on said drop plate, and a plate spaced from said extension and extending up to said flow impelling means, said flow dividing means dividing the channel into the upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet dis-- charging below said last named plate, a gate disposed between said extension and said last named plate, a hinge between said gate and extension, said gate forming in conjunction with said second named plate a transverse slot for controlling the flow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooking liquid in the upper channel.

7. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a channel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means in the channel, said flow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means ineluding a drop plate extending along a portion of the channel, an extension on said drop plate having a transverse edge disposed at the locality nearest said flow impelling means and a plate spaced from said extension and extending up to said flow impelling means, said last named plate having a transverse edge facing the edge of said extension, said flow dividing means dividing the channel into upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet discharging below said last named plate, a gate disposed between said extension and said last named plate, a hinge connecting said gate With said extension and disposed in proximity to the denoted edge of the extension, said gate forming in conjunction with the denoted edge of said last named plate a transverse slot for controlling thefiow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooln'ng liquid in the upper channel.

8. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a channel through the flow of the cooking liquid, flow impelling means in the channel, said flow impelling means having a discharge outlet, flow dividing means including a drop plate extending along a portion of the channel, an extension on said drop plate having a transverse edge disposed at the locality nearest said flow impelling means and a plate spaced from said extension and extending up to said flow impelling means, said last named plate having a transverse edge facing the edge of said extension, said flow dividing means dividing the channel into upper and lower passageways, said discharge outlet discharging below said last named plate, a gate disposed between said extension and said last named plate, a hinge connecting said gate with said extension and disposed in proximity to the denoted edge of the extension, said gate forming in conjunction with the denoted edge of said last named plate a transverse slot for controlling the flow of liquid out of the lower channel and into the upper channel to impel the flow of cooking liquid in the upper channel, said extension and last named plate being substantially horizontal and said gate swinging below said last named plate.

FRED C. CASWELL. ALEXANDER S. T. LAGAARD. 

